The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-04-08
An Interesting Paper.

We have been sbOwh an interesting
paper in the possession of a. T. Pindle Esq q,
being a plan of the old United States Senate
Chamber the diagram shows the alignment
of desks. with the name OF each member
constituting that august and memorable
body, when it convened at the first session,
OF the Thirty First congress, 10 the year OF
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
fifty. There were then but thirty states III
the Union. California was seeking admission
at that session, and John &. Fremont, the
sou-In-Iaw of Thomas Hart Benton, "Old
Bullion had been returned by the Legisla.
ture of that Golden territory as one of her
Senator'S and was claiming recognition and
a seat. The claims of the new State were
powerfully advocated by Benton, Seward,
Hale and others of free soil OF other prociy
tiles, but their pleas and arguments we're
successfully resisted by Clay, Webster, Cass,
FoOte and other members on the cOnstitu-
tiOnal grounds of insufficient population,
irIeguIarity, etc 1t was a battle of intel
Iectual giants and never can be forgotten by
those who heard the splendid debates upon
that occasion. Among the historic names of
that session who are designed ''to go down
to the sounding ages" We find Henry Clay,
of Kentucky; Daniel Webster, of Massa-
chusetts; Wm. H. Seward, of New York
Thos. H. Benton. Of Missouri; Stephen A,
Douglas and James Shields. of Illinois
Thomas COrwin and Salmon +. Chase, of
Ohio Lewis Cass, of Mississippi; John Bell
of Tennessee James NJ. Mason, of Virginia
A P Butler, of South Carolina Samuel
Houston, of Texas Hannibal Hamlin, of
Maine; John P. Hale, of New Hamp-
shire VIM. r. King, of Alabama James
Alfred Pearce, OF Indiana John NJ. Berrien,
of Georgia and others. It was an aggregation
Of intellectual craftsmanship and elOquence
uneQualed. The agitation OF the slavery
question became prominent at this session,
growing out of the feeling of bitterness engen-
dered in the free States by the enforcement
of the Fugitive Slave Law and Congress
sought accommodation and settlement by an
other compromise. To this end on the part
of the Senate special committee of thirteen
was appointed by that body, known as 1.-THE
Compromise Com mittee on the Fugitive
Slave Act" composed as follows Henry
Clay, of Kentucky, Chairman Daniel Web
ster, of Massacbus cts; Samuel 5. Phelps,
Of Vermont Daniel S. Dickinson, of New
York James Cooper of Pennsylvania ;
James NJ. Mason. of Virginia Willis P.
Mangum, of North Carolina John M
BerTien. of Georgia VIM. r. King, of Ala
bama S Downs. louisiana John Bell, of
Tenne ssee.; Lewis Cass, of Michigan and
Jesse d. Bright, of InGiana. The commit
tee reported early, in favor of some sort of
compromise mot now remembered, nor is it
m of 30 hi
ted by majority of the Senate, after a
series of the most brilliant and able debates
that has ever taken place in any deliberatI We
assembly on the globe. 1t was the rare good
fortune of Mr.. Pindle 2ot only to behold
these dem mi Gods ia persona but to follow
the words Of wisdom and eloquence uttered
by the Erandest orators and wIsest sages
and statesmen that this or any other age has
known. Taken all in all we shall never
look upon their like again.